Method and arrangement for reducing the average time needed for a communication unit to connect to a communication network

ABSTRACT

A method and an arrangement are provided for reducing the time needed for a communication unit ( 18 ) to connect to a communication network ( 11 - 16; 14 - 16 ), wherein the communication unit has to listen for data transmissions on a plurality of communication channels, and to identify one of the communication channels, on which an ongoing transmission is detected, before being able to begin transmitting. The method comprises the steps of monitoring the time lapsed since last transmission on the channel was ended, and transmitting data on the channel in order to enable the communication unit ( 18 ) to detect an ongoing transmission provided that a condition of low data traffic is detected corresponding to that no further data transmission occurs on the channel during a given period of time since the last transmission on the channel was ended.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of co-pending InternationalApplication No. PCT/SE2004/000979 filed Jun. 17, 2004 which designatesthe United States, and claims priority to Sweden application number SE0301835-5 filed Jun. 24, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to the field of communicationsand more specifically the invention relates to a methods and anarrangement in a communication network for reducing the average timeneeded for a communication unit to connect to the network. The inventionis particularly adapted for use in WLAN's (wireless local area networks)such as those operating in the 5 GHz bands.

BACKGROUND

The release of the 5 GHz bands for use by WLAN systems has offered alarge number of new channels. However, there are requirements on usersto not transmit data on these channels until they have checked that theyare not being used by primary users, i.e. radar systems, by performingsignal strengths measurements on the channels for at least 60 seconds.

Fortunately, it is not necessary for every WLAN terminal to perform suchmeasurements. In the case of a mobile station connecting to an accesspoint, it is possible to allow the access point to take care of checkingfor radar transmissions. In this case, a station that is to beginoperation only need to find a channel, on which transmissions areongoing to or from an access point, in order to be able to begintransmitting, i.e. to send a probe response to determine the nature ofthe WLAN, and attempt to associate if desired. To detect the presence ofan access point on a channel, it is necessary to listen fortransmissions on the channels.

An access point in a WLAN network typically transmits a so-called beaconframe approximately every 100 ms. However, to wait for 100 ms in eachchannel leads potentially to an unacceptable length of time to find anaccess point, with which one can associate. In ad-hoc or peer-to-peernetworks, i.e. networks without an access point, responsibility fordetecting radar systems is distributed to all stations in the network,and responsibility for generating beacons is shared.

As a compromise, it has been proposed to wait a shorter period of timeand look for any traffic, i.e. beacon frames or other traffic, in achannel to determine whether it is occupied. This makes the situationreasonable in a busy enterprise network, where there is a reasonablyhigh traffic level and a large number of access points available foruse.

However, in the home environment there may only be one access point towhich the station can associate. It is also entirely possible that thestation is the only user for that access point. In this case, waitingless than the full beacon period may actually make the situation worse,since there is a fairly large chance of missing the beacon transmissionfrom one's home access point on each measurement, thereby necessitatinganother full sweep through all available channels. Similar problems mayoccur in smaller enterprise networks or in enterprise networks, wherethere is a moderate traffic level and/or only a smaller number of accesspoints available for use.

SUMMARY

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method and anarrangement, respectively, for reducing the average time needed for acommunication unit to connect to a communication network of the abovekind, particularly in networks with few access points or in situationswhere the traffic is fairly low.

This object can be achieved by a method for reducing the average timeneeded for a communication unit to connect to a communication network,wherein the communication unit has to listen for data transmissions on aplurality of communication channels and to identify one of the pluralityof communication channels, on which an ongoing data transmission isdetected, before being able to begin transmitting, the method comprisingthe steps of monitoring the time lapsed since last data transmission onthe one of the plurality of communication channels was ended, andprovided that a condition of low data traffic is detected correspondingto that no further data transmission on the one of the plurality ofcommunication channels occurs during a given period of time since thelast data transmission on the channel was ended, transmitting data onthe channel in order to enable the communication unit to detect anongoing data transmission.

The communication network can be a wireless local area network. Theplurality of communication channels can be within a frequency band,which is used for transmissions by a primary user, and wherein data maybe transmitted in one of the plurality of communication channels onlyafter having checked that the frequency band of the one of the pluralityof communication channels is not used for transmissions by the primaryuser. Beacon frames can be sent on the one of the plurality ofcommunication channels at regular time intervals, and the given periodof time is shorter than the regular time intervals. Beacon frames can besent on the one of the plurality of communication channels approximatelyevery 100 ms. The given period of time can be less than approximately100 ms, preferably less than 50 ms, and most preferably less than 25 ms.The data transmitted in order to enable the communication unit to detectan ongoing data transmission can be comprised of a null data frame. Thedata transmitted in order to enable the communication unit to detect anongoing data transmission can be sent to a broadcast address. The datatransmitted in order to enable the communication unit to detect anongoing data transmission can be sent from an access point in thecommunications network. The data transmitted in order to enable thecommunication unit to detect an ongoing data transmission can be sentfrom a mobile station connected in the communications network.

The object can also be achieved by an arrangement for reducing theaverage time needed for a communication unit to connect to acommunication network, wherein the communication unit has to listen fordata transmissions on a plurality of communication channels and toidentify one of the plurality of communication channels, on which anongoing data transmission is detected, before being able to begintransmitting, the arrangement comprising clock means for monitoring thetime lapsed since last data transmission on the one of the plurality ofcommunication channels was ended, and transmitting means fortransmitting data on the channel in order to enable the communicationunit to detect an ongoing data transmission, provided that a conditionof low data traffic is detected corresponding to that no further datatransmission on the one of the plurality of communication channelsoccurs during a given period of time since the last data transmission onthe channel was ended.

The communication network can be a wireless local area network. Thearrangement can be provided for sending beacon frames on the one of theplurality of communication channels at regular time intervals, the givenperiod of time being shorter than the regular time intervals. The datatransmitted in order to enable the communication unit to detect anongoing data transmission can be comprised of a null data frame. Anaccess point provided for transmitting and receiving data on the one ofthe plurality of communication channels, may comprise such anarrangement.

By adding functionality, preferably to the access point, so that if notraffic has been sent for a given period of time, the access pointtransmits a null data frame, the situation described above can beavoided. Such null data frames are defined in the 802.11 WLAN standard,and can be sent to the broadcast address so that they will be receivedby all stations without being necessarily any stations associated. Anyother allowed 802.11 frame type could be used, as long as it does notinterfere with the operation of possible associated stations and can berecognized by stations searching for a network.

These null data frames will only be sent when there is very lighttraffic and will thereby not represent any significant impact on thethroughput of the WLAN cell or give a significant collision risk. Thegiven time period, at the end of which a null data frame is sent, isless, preferably considerably less, than the time between two beaconframes, i.e. 100 ms. The time period may e.g. be less than 50 ms or 25ms. When connecting to a network with such behavior it is possible toset the listening time on a particular channel to a very low level onlymarginally greater than the time period between scheduled null dataframes, with virtually no risk of missing the transmission, whichthereby allows for very short channel sweep times.

It shall be appreciated that the present invention has not necessarilyto be implemented in the access point of the network. In ad-hocnetworks, responsibility for generating the null data frames can beshared in the same way as the responsibility for generating beacons isshared. Yet alternatively, the invention may be implemented in any otherkind of network node being capable of transmitting and receiving on thenetwork.

It shall further be appreciated that the present invention is notrestricted for use in a WLAN system using the 5 GHz bands concurrentlywith radar systems, but may be implemented in any kind of network,wherein a communication unit that is to connect to the communicationsnetwork has to listen for data transmissions on a plurality ofcommunication channels and to identify one of the communication channelson which an ongoing data transmission is detected, before being able tobegin transmitting, in order to reduce the average time needed for thecommunication unit to connect to the network.

Further characteristics of the invention, and advantages thereof, willbe evident from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments of the present invention given hereinafter and from theaccompanying FIGS. 1-5, which are given by way of illustration only, andshall thus not limit the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic network layout for a WLAN, wherein the presentinvention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a schematic network layout for an alternative WLAN, whereinthe present invention is implemented.

FIG. 3 is a schematic traffic time sequence on a channel according toprior art.

FIG. 4 is a schematic traffic time sequence on a channel according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic traffic time sequence on another channel accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 a network layout for a WLAN is schematically shown, wherein apreferred embodiment of the present invention is implemented. The WLANincludes a plurality of network nodes or access points 11, 12, 13, whichare connected to a general network such as e.g. the Internet 17. Each ofthe access points 11, 12, 13, transmits and receives on a fixed channelamong those defined in the standard used in the WLAN, and each mobilestation that is to connect to the WLAN has to associate with one of theaccess points 11, 12, 13.

In FIG. 1 three mobile stations 14, 15, 16 are connected to the WLAN, ofwhich all are associated with the access point 11, i.e. they are capableof transmitting and receiving data on the channel allocated to theaccess point 11 as schematically indicated by the bi-directional arrows.

A fourth mobile station 18 is to connect to the WLAN and has thereforeto listen for data transmissions on the channels, and to identify one ofthe channels, on which an ongoing data transmission is detected, beforebeing able to begin transmitting. Typically, the mobile station 18 hasto scan over the possible channels since only one channel at a time canbe listened to.

Each of the access points 11, 12, 13 sends out beacon frames on itsrespective allocated channel at regular time intervals, so-called beaconintervals, which typically are 100 ms. In FIG. 3 a schematic traffictime sequence is shown for the channel allocated to access point 11 ofthe WLAN of FIG. 1 as it would have appeared if the present inventionwould not have been implemented. The sequence shows beacon transmissionsat the fixed beacon intervals and other transmissions, e.g.transmissions from the mobile stations 14, 15, and 16 more irregularly.

Thus, the mobile station 18 would have to listen to each channel a fullbeacon interval to avoid the risk of missing any channel that it wouldbe capable to associate with. The time needed for identifying a channelto associate with may in cases with very few available access pointsand/or very low ongoing traffic be very long.

The present invention reduces this time needed by means of transmittingnull data frames on a usable channel, which has been quiet for a certaintime period. The access point 11 monitors the time lapsed since lastdata transmission on its allocated channel was ended, and provided thatno further data transmission on the channel occurs during a given timeperiod since the last data transmission on the channel was ended, alsoreferred to as null data interval, it transmits a null data frame on thechannel. In FIG. 4 a schematic traffic time sequence is shown for thechannel allocated to access point 11 of the WLAN of FIG. 1 with thepresent invention implemented.

The null data interval is considerably shorter than the beacon interval,but yet sufficiently long not to heavily reduce the throughput on thechannel. The null data interval is preferably shorter than 50 or shorterthan 25 ms.

If the worst case search time must be kept within a particular bound,then the maximum allowable null data interval can be determined as themaximum allowed search time divided by the number of channels, whichmust be searched.

The access point 12 of the WLAN of FIG. 1, which has no mobile stationsassociated, only transmits beacon frames and null data frames on itsallocated channel. In FIG. 5 a schematic traffic time sequence is shownfor the channel allocated to the access point 12 with the presentinvention implemented. The beacon and null data transmissions areindicated. The channel is only quiet during the null data interval.Similarly, each other access point 13 in the WLAN transmits on itsrespective allocated channel null data frames according the above.

When the mobile station 18 shall connect to the WLAN, it is sufficientto set the listening time on each channel to a very low level, onlyslightly longer than the null data interval time, with practically norisk of missing transmissions except due to the normal hazards ofwireless transmission such as interference.

It shall be appreciated that the present invention is not onlyapplicable for reducing the time for connecting to a network, but alsofor reducing the time for finding available channels for a possiblehandoff from one channel to another.

In FIG. 2 another network layout for a WLAN is schematically shown,wherein an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention isimplemented. This network is an ad-hook or peer-to-peer network wheremobile stations 14, 15, 16 are connected direct to each other as beingindicated by the bi-directional arrows, and not via any access points.One of the mobile stations 16 may transmit beacon frames regularly inorder to inform surrounding units of the existence of the network.

A fourth mobile station 18 is to connect to the WLAN, and has thus tolisten for data transmissions on the possible channels, and to identifythe channel, on which an ongoing data transmission is detected, beforebeing able to begin transmitting.

In this embodiment the mobile station 16 is responsible for theinventive functionality. Thus, the mobile station 16 monitors the timelapsed since last data transmission on the channel used by the mobilestations 14, 15, 16 in the ad-hook network was ended, and provided thatno further data transmission on the channel occurs during a given timeperiod since the last data transmission on the channel was ended, ittransmits a null data frame on the channel. A traffic time sequence forthe channel used by the ad-hook network may be similar as the oneschematically illustrated in FIG. 4.

Alternatively, in an IEEE 802.11 ad-hoc network, responsibility forgenerating null data frames can be shared amongst all stations takingpart in the network, in a similar manner to how responsibility forgenerating beacons is shared.

1. A method for reducing the average time needed for a communicationunit to connect to a communication network, wherein said communicationunit has to listen for data transmissions on a plurality ofcommunication channels and to identify one of said plurality ofcommunication channels, on which an ongoing data transmission isdetected, before being able to begin transmitting, the method comprisingthe steps of: monitoring the time lapsed since last data transmission onsaid one of said plurality of communication channels was ended, andprovided that a condition of low data traffic is detected correspondingto that no further data transmission on said one of said plurality ofcommunication channels occurs during a given period of time since saidlast data transmission on said channel was ended, transmitting data onsaid channel in order to enable said communication unit to detect anongoing data transmission.
 2. A method according to claim 1, whereinsaid communication network is a wireless local area network.
 3. A methodaccording to claim 2, wherein said plurality of communication channelsare within a frequency band, which is used for transmissions by aprimary user, and wherein data may be transmitted in one of saidplurality of communication channels only after having checked that thefrequency band of said one of said plurality of communication channelsis not used for transmissions by said primary user.
 4. A methodaccording to claim 1, wherein beacon frames are sent on said one of saidplurality of communication channels at regular time intervals, and saidgiven period of time is shorter than said regular time intervals.
 5. Amethod according to claim 4, wherein beacon frames are sent on said oneof said plurality of communication channels approximately every 100 ms.6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said given period of time isless than approximately 100 ms, preferably less than 50 ms, and mostpreferably less than 25 ms.
 7. A method according to claim 1, whereinsaid data transmitted in order to enable said communication unit todetect an ongoing data transmission is comprised of a null data frame.8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said data transmitted in orderto enable said communication unit to detect an ongoing data transmissionis sent to a broadcast address.
 9. A method according to claim 1,wherein said data transmitted in order to enable said communication unitto detect an ongoing data transmission is sent from an access point insaid communications network.
 10. A method according to claim 1, whereinsaid data transmitted in order to enable said communication unit todetect an ongoing data transmission is sent from a mobile stationconnected in said communications network.
 11. An arrangement forreducing the average time needed for a communication unit to connect toa communication network, wherein said communication unit has to listenfor data transmissions on a plurality of communication channels and toidentify one of said plurality of communication channels, on which anongoing data transmission is detected, before being able to begintransmitting, the arrangement comprising: clock means for monitoring thetime lapsed since last data transmission on said one of said pluralityof communication channels was ended, and transmitting means fortransmitting data on said channel in order to enable said communicationunit to detect an ongoing data transmission, provided that a conditionof low data traffic is detected corresponding to that no further datatransmission on said one of said plurality of communication channelsoccurs during a given period of time since said last data transmissionon said channel was ended.
 12. An arrangement according to claim 11,wherein said communication network is a wireless local area network. 13.An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said arrangement isprovided for sending beacon frames on said one of said plurality ofcommunication channels at regular time intervals, said given period oftime being shorter than said regular time intervals.
 14. An arrangementaccording to claim 11, wherein said data transmitted in order to enablesaid communication unit to detect an ongoing data transmission iscomprised of a null data frame.
 15. An access point provided fortransmitting and receiving data on said one of said plurality ofcommunication channels, and comprising the arrangement claim 11.